Musical instrument valve construction

ABSTRACT

A slide assembly for a brass wind musical instrument includes a rotary valve which may be selectively manipulated to render the instrument playable in a plurality of different musical keys. The slide assembly may be serially interposed in the fluid passage of an instrument, such as a bass trombone or a bugle, by replacing a tuning slide of the instrument. The rotary valve includes a casing having six ports therein which terminate one end of an inlet tube, one end of an outlet tube, both ends of the third tube and both ends of a fourth tube. The third and fourth tubes each include a tuning slide and are selectively connected in series with the inlet and outlet tubes by operation of the rotary valve to define the total length of fluid flow through the valve assembly as, accordingly, the musical key of the instrument. The slide assembly has pivotally mounted thereon a T-shaped handle which is connected to the rotary valve by way of a lever assembly. The rotary valve is biased to normally render the instrument playable in a predetermined key and to return the valve to the corresponding predetermined position upon release of the handle from a position corresponding to any of the other musical keys.

[ 51 Feb. 15, 1972 United States Patent Kanstul et a1.

[54] MUSICAL INSTRUMENT VALVE CONSTRUCTION Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales [72] Inventors: Zigmant J. Kanstul, Anaheim; Gregory F- Atmrney-HilL Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson Quinn, Garden Grove, both of Calif.;

[57] ABSTRACT A slide assembly for a brass wind musical instrument includes a rotary valve which may be selectively manipulated to render [73 Assignee: Chicago Musical instrument, (10., Lincolnthe instrument playable in a plurality of different musical keys. The slide assembly may be serially interposed in the fluid such as a bass trombone or a bugle, by replacing a tuning slide of the instrument. The rotary valve includes a casing having six ports therein which tenninate one end of an inlet tube, one end of an outlet tube, both ends of the third tube and both ends of a fourth tube. The third and fourth tubes each include a tuning slide and are selectively connected in series with the inlet and outlet tubes by operation of the rotary valve to define the total length of fluid flow through the valve assembly as, accordingly, the musical key of the instrument. The slide assembly has pivotally mounted thereon a T-shaped handle which is connected to the rotary y of a lever assembly. The rotary valve is biased to normally render the instrument playable in a predetermined key and to return the valve to the corresponding predetermined position upon release of the handle from a position corresponding to any of the other musical keys.

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SHEET 2 OF 4 Z5 7 Egg. 2

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT VALVE CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to musical instrument construction and more particularly to a slide assembly for a brass wind instrument including a rotary valve which is operable to render the instrument playable in a plurality of musical keys.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, brass wind instruments, such as bugles, have been provided with a four-port valve which is operable to produce a single key change to render the instrument selectively playable in one of two musical keys. Similar types of valving constructions have also been applied to horns and trombones.

Multiport rotary valves have been employed previously in musical instruments; however, in all previous applications the rotary valve was limited in function to the connection of ports which were disposed along the same valving plane. Such rotary valves were therefore limited in flexibility of application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a tuning slide of a brass wind instrument may be replaced by a rotary valve slide assembly which is configurable through the operation of the rotary valve thereof to present three different lengths of fluid passageway for serial interposition in the instrument. The three different lengths of tubing may be employed to produce three distinct musical keys for the instrument. In the case of a bugle the three keys would be, for example, G, F and F#. In the case of a bass trombone the keys would be Bb, F and E.

The first length of tubing includes an inlet tube for receiving fluid flow from the instrument and an outlet tube for delivering fluid flow back to the instrument, the inlet and outlet tubes being normally connected in fluid communication by way of the rotary valve. A second length of tubing has its two ends connected in communication with the rotary valve and is connected in series with the first length of tubing by selective operation of the rotary valve. A third length of tubing also has both of its ends connected in fluid communication with the rotary valve and is placed in serial fluid communication with the first and secondlengths of tubing by selective operation of the valve. Inasmuch as the total length of the tubing is inversely related to the range of available musical keys, the second length of tubing is advantageously utilized for both of the lower musical keys.

The rotary valve comprises a cylindrical housing or casing having rotatably mounted therein a rotor which is biased to a predetermined angular position. The rotor has a first generally transverse bore therethrough which is aligned with and places said inlet and outlet tubes in fluid communication when the rotor is in the predetermined angular position. The rotor also has a second generally transverse bore therethrough and an axially directed cavity for use in combination with the first transverse bore to selectively connect the lengths of tubing in series in accordance with the angular position of the rotor.

A particular feature of the invention resides in the provision of the transverse bores in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to the axis of the rotor, and of the axially directed bore with a length corresponding substantially to thespacing of the transverse bores so that the rotary valve is operable to establish the various lengths of fluid flow by interconnecting ports which are spaced apart in the direction of the axis of the rotor so that they lie along different transverse planes of the valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, features and advantages of the invention, its organization, construction and operation will be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. in which:

FIG. I is a pictorial representation of a rotary valve slide assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the rotary valve of FIG. 1 shown in fragmentary section;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the rotor of the valve illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the rotor illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a valve casing for the rotary valve illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8, is an exploded view of the operating mechanism of the rotary valve illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8a is a plan view of a portion of the torsion spring with the rotary valve in the center position;

FIG. 9 (appearing on sheet I) is a pictorial view of the valve operating apparatus of FIG. 8 in an assembled condition;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a portion of the rotary valve slide assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating in phantom different operational positions of the rotary valve operating mechanism; and

FIGS. 11-13 are diagrammatic illustrations of the fluid flow in the rotary valve slide assembly for different angular positions of the valve rotor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, there is illustrated a rotary valve slide assembly 10 including a rotary valve 11, an inlet tube 12 and an outlet tube 13. The inlet tube 12 includes a portion 14 of reduced diameter for slidable engagement within a slide receiving tube 14 of a musical instrument. Similarly, the outlet tube 13 includes a portion 15 of reduced diameter for slidable engagement with a tube 15 of the musical instrument. The tubes 14' and 15 represent tubes which would normally receive a tuning slide of the musical instrument so that the rotary valve slide assembly 10 replaces such a tuning slide and in itself is a tuning slide for the instrument.

The tubes 12 and 13 are ported into the rotary valve 11. Also ported into the rotary valve 11 is a pair of tubes 16 and 17 which tubes are connected in fluid communication by a tuning slide 18 having portions 19 and 20 for slidable engagement within the tubes 16 and 17, respectively. Also ported into the rotary valve 11 is a pair of tubes 21 and 22 which tubes are connected in fluid communication with a tuning slide 23 which also has portions of reduced diameter (not shown) for slidable engagement within the tubes 21 and 22.

For purpose of illustration, it will be assumed that the particular musical instrument is a bugle and that the tubes 12, 13 represent the key of G, the tubes 21, 22 represent the key of F# and the tubes 16, 17 represent the key of F when connected in series with the tubes 21 and 22.

The rotary valve 11 includes a rotor 24 (FIG. 2) having a stem 25 at one end and a stem 26 at the other end about the axis of rotation thereof. The rotor includes a milled out portion 27 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) directed generally axially of the rotor and extending between two transverse planes of the rotor through which a pair of separate transverse bores 28 and 29 are formed.

The rotor 24 (FIG. 2) is rotatably mounted in a generally tubular casing 30 having an interior transverse wall 31 therein which divides the casing 30 into a pair of cupshaped portions 30a, 3017 (FIG. 7). The wall 31 includes an axial bore 32 for receiving a tubular bushing 42 to rotatably mount the stem 25 of the rotor 24. The casing has formed therein at the same angular position a pair of spaced-apart ports 33 and 34 which terminate tubes 22 and 17, respectively. The housing 30 also has formed therein at a second angular position a pair of spaced-apart parts 44 and 44' which terminate tubes 21 and 13, respectively. The rotor casing 30 has further formed therein at a third angular position a pair of spaced-apart ports 45 and 45' which terminate tubes 16 and 12, respectively. The angular spacing of the ports is therefore, the rotor 24 must traverse 120 to effect a change in musical key.

The rotor casing 30 further includes a threaded portion 35 for engaging the internal threads 37 of an end cap 36 having a well portion 38 for receiving a hollow bushing 40. The bushing 40 includes a bore 41 for receiving the stem 26 of the rotor 24 and the bushing 42 includes a bore 42a for receiving the stem 25 of the rotor 24. The rotor 24 and the bushings 40 and 42 are disposed within the larger of the cup-shaped portions of the rotor casing 30 and the end cap 36 is threaded onto the casing 30, a knurl 39 being provided on the end cap 36 to aid in assembly and disassembly.

With the rotor 24 assembled within the rotor casing 30, its stem 25 extends through the smaller of the cup-shaped portions of the casing and to the exterior of the valve for connection to a hand-operated valve-actuating mechanism. The actuating mechanism includes an action cap assembly 46 comprising a generally planar annular action cap 47 having a spacing portion 48 and a shaped axial bore 49 which conforms to the shape of the end of the valve stem 25 for receiving the valve stem therein for mutual rotation.

The action cap assembly 46 further comprises a torsion spring 50 having a pair of ends 51 and 52. A return spring screw 54 includes a threaded portion 55 for engagement within a tapped hole 53 in the casing wall 31. The return spring screw 54 also includes a head 56 which projects from the surface of the wall 31 for contact with ends 51 and 52 of the torsion spring 50. A screw 58 includes a threaded shank portion 59 for engagement in a tapped hole 57 of the action cap 47 and an unthreaded extending shank portion 60 for extending from the bottom surface of the action cap 47 into the cup-shaped portion of the rotor casing 30 for contact with the ends 51 and 52 of the torsion spring 50. In an assembled condition, the torsion spring 50 surrounds the rotatable mounting of the shank 25 and the spring is provided with a moment such that both ends 51 and 52 are rotated angularly of the axis of development of the spring and pass each other whereby they lie on opposite sides of and are urged against the head 56 of the return spring screw 54. The action cap 47 with the shank 60 extending therefrom is positioned to receive the rotor shank 25 within the shaped bore 49 and to extend the shank 60 into a position adjacent the head 56 of screw 54 and between the ends 51 and 52 of the spring 50. This relationship between the spring 50, the shank 60 and the head 56 provides a bias to normally position the action cap and, accordingly, the rotor to a first angular position whereat bore 28 is aligned with ports 44 and 45' to connect the inlet tube 12 and the outlet tube 13 in fluid communication so that the instrument is operable in the key of G. It is clearly evident that rotation of the action cap 47 in either angular direction will cause the pin 60 to contact and carry one end of the return spring therewith while the screw head 56 maintains the other end of the spring fixed: therefore, rotation of the valve in either direction will efiect the storage of a return or restoration energy in the spring 50 to urge the valve to the predetermined condition wherein the instrument is playable in the key ofG.

The stem 25 of the rotor 24 includes a threaded bore 43 therein for receiving a machine screw 62 to secure the action cap assembly 46 to the valve stem 25.

The action cap assembly 46 also comprises a reverse stop assembly 63 for operative cooperation with a rotor drive assembly 91 and a stop screw 100.

The stop screw 100 includes a threaded shank 101 for engagement in a tapped hole 102 in the edge of the rotor casing 30. The stop screw 100 further includes an elongate head 103 which extends from the rotor casing 30 adjacent the periphery of the action cap 47 and beyond the outer surface of the action cap 47.

The reverse stop assembly 63 comprises a crescent-shaped reverse stop plate 64 including an extending hinge tube 65 having a bore 65a therethrough. A roller 70 having an axial bore 71 is positioned in an end-to-end relationship with the hinge tube 65 and a screw 66 is employed to secure the reverse stop plate 64 to the action cap 47. The screw 66 includes a head 69, an elongate shank 68 which extends through the bores 71 and 65a and a threaded end 67 which engages a tapped hole 72 in the action plate 47. The distance of the screw 66 from the axis of rotation of the rotor 24 defines a lever arm which is effective to position the rotor upon the application of a force in a direction transverse of the screw 66.

The reverse stop plate 64 is pivotal with respect to the action plate 47 and includes a pair of notches and 83 therein for receiving correspondingly shaped portions 79 of respective resilient bumpers 78 and 82. Each of these resilient bumpers includes a flat portion 81 which is positionable with the reverse stop plate 64 to extend into an interference path of travel with the elongate head 103 of the screw 100. The reverse stop plate includes a hole 73 therein for receiving an end 75 of a spring 74 while the action cap 47 includes a hole 77 for receiving an end 76 of the spring 74. The spring 74 provides the reverse stop assembly with a toggle action so that a greater force than the restoration force of the spring 50 must be exerted against the'screw 66 to rotate the valve from the position corresponding to the key of G. For example, as the rotor turns to bring the resilient bumper 78 into contact with the elongate head 103, the spring 74 prevents pivoting of the reverse stop plate upon such contact. Application of a sufficient force to shorten the distance between the spring ends 75 and 76 to permit pivoting of the reverse stop plate 64 will permit the head 103 to cam the resilient bumper 78 of the reverse stop plate 64 into a noninterfering path of travel and preposition the resilient bumper 82 for contact with the elongate head 103 upon reverse rotation effected by the return spring 50.

Inasmuch as the reverse stop assembly 63 is symmetrical with respect to the action cap 47, the toggle spring 74 may be disposed on either side of the reverse stop assembly if desired, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The action cap 47 and the reverse stop assembly 63 thereof further include means to insure the proper prepositioning of the reverse stop plate 64 such that the corresponding resilient bumper (78, 82) may correspondingly be placed in the proper position with respect to the elongate head 103 of the stop screw 100. For this purpose the screw 58 is provided with a head 61 which projects above the surface of the action cap 47 and into the paths of movement of the arms of the reverse stop plate 64. The elongate head 61 is positioned so as to lie between the resilient bumpers 78, 82 for contacting a corresponding one of the bumpers upon toggling action. The reverse stop plate 64 is therefore provided with a positive stop and prevented from pivoting too far under the influence of the toggle spring 74.

Once the overcenter effect of the spring 74 has been overcome in one angular direction; the valve may be freely manipulated to provide changes of key between the key of G and, for example, the key of F# whereby the end 112 of the T- shaped key lever 108 may be freely pivoted between its rest and depressed positions. Overshoot through the valve position representing the key of G into the position representing the key of F is prevented upon return of the valve by the contact of the bumper 78 with the head 103 of the stop 100. A similar condition prevails when the overcenter effect of the spring 74 has been overcome in the opposite angular direction whereby the valve may be freely manipulated between the positions representing the keys of G and F and wherein overshoot is prevented by the interfering coaction of the bumper 82 and the head 103 of the screw 100.

The operating force for the rotary valve is applied to the screw 66 by the rotor drive assembly 91 which comprises a drive plate 92 and a drive arm 93 angularly fixed with respect to one another and including a common hinge tube 94 extending therethrough for receiving a hinge screw 86. The hinge screw 86 includes a slotted head 88, a shank 87 and a threaded end which engages the internal threads of a drive assembly bridge 84 secured to the rotor casing 30. The screw 86 extends through a bore 90 of a spacer 89 which maintains the drive plate 92 and the drive arm 93 beyond the assembled extent of the screw 62.

The drive plate 92 includes a shaped aperture therein defined by the curved edges 95, 96 and the straight edges 97,

edges 97 and 98, respectively,

98. The aperture embraces the roller 70 which rolls along the as the valve is operated in opposite directions. The application of a force to the drive 93 effects a pivoting of the drive arm 93 and the drive plate 92 about the screw 86 to impart a corresponding driving force by way of the edges 97 and 98 and the roller 70 to the screw 66 which, in turn, by the lever arm defined between the screw 66 and the axis of the rotor, effects rotation of the rotor.

The drive arm 93 includes at the free end thereof a tapped hole 99 for receiving a screw 104 to pivotally secure one end of an L-shaped drive link 105 thereto. The other end of the drive link 105 is pivotally connected by a screw 106 to a drive lever 107 of a T-shaped key lever 108. The T-shaped key lever 108 includes a hand lever 109 having spaced ends 112, 113. The inlet tube 12 has mounted thereon a pedestal 111 to which the T-shaped key lever is pivotally secured by a screw 110. The angular disposition of the drive lever 107 with respect to the hand lever 109 and the length and shape of the drive link 105 maintain the drive link generally out of the way I and in close proximity to the inlet tube 12 while maintaining the hand lever 109 in a position generally parallel to the inlet tube 12 when no operating force is applied and the bias places the valve in its predetermined condition to effect the predetermined key, herein illustrated as the key of G.

The rotary valve slide assembly also comprises members 114. 115 to provide rigidity to the tubular structure, and although only two such members are shown herein, any number of such members may be employed as required by the specific construction.

Referring particularly to FIGS. -13, the operation of the rotary slide assembly 10 will be briefly discussed to facilitate better understanding of the invention. With the hand lever 109 positioned generally parallel to the inlet tube 12, as illustrated by the solid lines, the drive plate 92 is in the position A and the rotor is correspondingly positioned so that the bore 28 is aligned with the ports 44 and 45' to place the tubes 12 and 13 in fluid communication and establish a length of tubing corresponding to the key of G. This is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 11.

Pivoting of the hand lever 109 to depress the end 112 causes the drive plate 92 to assume the position C, the rolling of roller 70 along edge 97 effecting a counterclockwise rotation of the rotor 24. In this angular position the passageway 28 is aligned with ports 45', and 33, and the passageway formed by the cavity 27 and the interior surface of the rotor casing 30 is aligned with ports 44 and 44' to form a serial fluid passageway including tube 12, passageway 28, tube 22, tuning slide 23, tube 21, passageway 27 and tube 13. The just-traced serial fluid passageway corresponds to the key F#. This condition is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 12.

Release of the hand lever 109 permits the spring 50 to restore the rotor to the position corresponding to the key of G whereat the resilient bumper 78 strikes the head 61 of the screw 58 to prevent rotary overshoot by the rotor.

Application of sufficient force to the end 113 of hand lever 109 to cause depression of the end 113 causes the drive plate 92 to pivot to the position referenced B during which pivoting roller 70 rolls along edge 98 to impart clockwise rotary motion to the rotor 24. The head 103 of the stop pin 100 earns the reverse stop plate out of its interfering relationship to overcome the effect of the toggle springs 74 during the pivotal motion of the drive plate 92. In this position of the rotor 24, the passageway 27 is aligned with the ports 45 and 45', the bore 28 is aligned with the ports 33 and 44', and.the bore 29 is aligned with the ports 34 and 44. There is therefore established a serially connected fluid passageway including tube 12, cavity 27, tube 16, tuning slide 18 tube 17, bore 29, tube 21, tuning slide 23, tube 22, bore 28 and tube 13. The length of fluid passageway established by this angular position of the rotor corresponds to the musical key of F and is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 13.

Attention is invited that tubes 21 and 22, and the tuning slide 23, were employed in the serial fluid circuit for the'key of F# and the key of F making advantageous double use of these tubes and foregoing the necessity of a separate, much longer, tube for the key of F.

What we claim is:

l. A rotary valve assembly for a musical instrument comprising:

a. a casing;

b. a valve rotor rotatably mounted in said casing;

0. means in said casing defining a series of ports lying in a pair of axially spaced planes, the ports in one of said planes aligned with ports of another of said planes along lines parallel to the rotor axis;

d. means in said rotor defining passages for interconnecting said ports and including a fluid passageway extending parallel to the rotor axis for interconnecting pairs of aligned ports lying in said spaced planes; and

e. means for rotating said rotor.

2. A rotary valve for a musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said ports are spaced apart l20 about said casing.

3. A rotary valve for a musical instrument according to claim 2, wherein a. a first of said ports is an inlet port,

b. a second of said ports in an outlet port and of the same plane as said inlet port,

c. a first external passageway connects a third port and a fourth port of different pairs of ports,

d. a second external passageway connects a fifth port and a sixth port of different pairs of ports,

c. said fluid passageway is a first fluid passageway, and

f. said means in said rotor further defines second and third fluid passageways normal to the direction of said first passageway, said rotor being selectively positionable to place said first, second and third passageways in communication with said ports selectively to alter the length of fluid flow between said inlet and outlet ports. A rotary valve for a musical instrument comprising:

a hollow cylindrical valve casing including al. means defining a plurality of first ports through said casing along a first plane transverse to said casing, and a2. a plurality of second ports through said casing along a second plane generally parallel to the first plane; a cylindrical rotor mounted for rotation within said casing including bl. a fluid passageway extending parallel to the the axis of said rotor; and

c. positioning means secured to said rotor for mutual rotation therewith to selectively place said fluid in communication between a first and a second of said ports.

5. A rotaryv valve for a musical instrument according to claim 4, wherein Y a. each of said first ports is aligned with a separate one of said second ports to form pairs of ports, and

b. said pairs of ports are spaced apart about said valve casing.

6. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument, comprising:

a. a hollow valve casing having a plurality of ports therethrough;

b. an inlet tube extending from a first of said ports for coupling to and receiving fluid flow from the instrument;

0. an outlet tube extending from a second of said ports for coupling to and delivering fluid flow to the instrument;

d. a rotor mounted for rotation within said valve casing;

e. positioning means for placing said rotor in selected angular positions;

f. a first passageway extending through said rotor to connect said inlet and outlet tubes in communication when said rotor is in a first position to provide a first fluid path of a first length and render the instrument operable in a first musical key;

g. a first tube connecting a third and a fourth of said ports in communication;

h. a second passageway in said rotor extending normal to the direction of said first passageway, said first and third ports connected by said first passageway and said second and fourth ports connected by said second passageway when said rotor is in a second position to provide a second fluid path of a second length and render the instrument operable in a second musical key;

i. a second tube connecting a fifth and a sixth of said ports;

and

j. a third passageway in said rotor extending normal to the direction of said second passageway, said second and third ports connected by said first passageway and said first and fifth ports connected by said second passageway and said fourth and sixth ports connected by said third passageway when said rotor is in a third position to provide a third fluid path of a third length and render the instrument operable in a third fluid path of a third length and render the instrument operable in a third musical key.

7. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument according to claim 6, further comprising:

a. biasing means connected between said rotor and said casing for urging said rotor toward said first position.

8. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument according to claim 6, comprising:

a. manually operable lever means included in said positioning means and coupled to said rotor; and

b. spring means connected between said lever means and said valve casing for urging said rotor toward said first position.

9. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument according to claim 6, comprising a. means defining an aperture in said casing;

b. a valve stem on said rotor extending through said aperture to the exterior of said valve;

c. manually operable key selection lever means included in said positioning means coupled to said valve stem operable to first, second and third positions corresponding to said first, second and third positions of said rotor; and

d. biasing means coupled to said positioning means and to said casing for returning said rotor and said key selection lever means to said corresponding first positions upon release ofsaid key selection lever means.

10. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument according to claim 9, wherein said manually operable key selection lever means comprises:

a. first lever means connected to said valve stem for rotation therewith,

b. second lever means pivotally connected to said casing;

c. coupling means included in said first and second lever means effecting a variable length of said second lever means to match the arcuate movement thereof with the rotary movement of said first lever means; and

d. manually operable third lever means pivotally connected to one of said tubes and to said second lever means for selectively positioning said second lever means to position said first lever means and rotor.

11. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument according to claim 9, wherein:

a. said valve casing includes a hollow cylinder having a wall therein dividing said hollow cylinder into first and second cup-shaped portions, said wall including said aperture centrally disposed therein;

b. said rotor is disposed in said first cup-shaped portion with said valve stem extending through said aperture;

c. a cover secured to the open end of said first cup-shaped portion to secure said rotor therein;

d. said key selection means includes a cap secured to said valve stem to form said first lever means and cover said second cup-shaped portion; and

e. said biasing means includes a spring disposed in said second cup-shaped portion and coupled between said cap and said casing to urge said rotor toward said first position.

12. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument according to claim 11, wherein:

a. said casing includes a first pin extending from said wall into said second cup-shaped portion;

b. said cap includes a second pin extending into said second cup-shaped portion; and

c. said spring includes first and second ends which selectively contact said first and second pins upon angular movement of said rotor,

d. one of said first and second ends being selectively movable with said second pin and while the other end is forced 2 against said first pin to store restoring energy in said spring regardless of the direction of rotation of said rotor.

13. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument according to claim 11, wherein said casing includes:

a. a first bearing mounted in the aperture of said wall; and

b. a second bearing mounted in said cover, said bearings rotatably supporting said rotor within said casing.

14. Manually operable valve apparatus for a brass wind instrument comprising:

a. a valve including a]. a hollow valve casing having a longitudinal axis, a tubular wall, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a plurality of other ports, each of said ports extending through said tubular wall, said ports spaced about said casing and'lying in spaced-apart planes with each port in a plane aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of said casing with a port in another plane, and

a2. a cylindrical valve member rotatably secured within said casing for rotation about said longitudinal axis of said casing and having a plurality of fluid passageways formed therein for connecting selected pairs of said ports in communication, at least one of said passageways extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said casing;

b. an inlet tube connected to said inlet port for delivering fluid thereto;

c. an outlet tube connected to said outlet port for receiving fluid therefrom;

a plurality of other tubes each connecting a separate pair of said other ports in communication;

manually operable means connected to said valve member for rotating said valve member to selectively align said fluid passageways with said ports and thereby selectively alter the length of fluid flow in said apparatus and the musical key of the instrument; and biasing means coupled between said valve member and said casing for urging said valve member toward a first angular position corresponding to a first musical key.

Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each of said other tubes includes means for adjusting the length thereof to additionally alter the length of fluid flow for the instrument.

l6. Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 65 14, wherein a. said valve member is mounted for rotation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, and

b. said bias means includes spring means connected to said valve member and means for storing energy in said spring means regardless of the direction of rotation of said valve member.

17. Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 14, including a stop mechanism for preventing overshoot of said first angular position upon restoration thereto by said 75 biasing means, said stop mechanism comprising:

a. a stop arm pivotally connected to said valve member and rotatable therewith;

b. a stop pin secured to said casing and disposed in the path of travel of said stop arm; and

c. toggle means pivotally connected to said valve member and to said stop arm and operable to permit said stop arm to be pivoted away from said stop pin upon the application of a force to rotate said valve member which is greater than the restoring force of said biasing means.

18. Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 14, including a stop mechanism for preventing overshoot of said first angular position upon restoration thereto by said biasing means, said stop mechanism comprising:

a. a yoke including a pair of stop arms and pivotally connected to said valve member for angular movement therewith;

b. a stop pin secured to said casing and extending into the path of travel of said stop arms; and

c. toggle means for pivoting said stop arms upon the application of a predetermined force to said manually operable means, said toggle means including a spring pivotally connected to said valve member and to said yoke to urge one of said stop arms out of an interference relationship with said stop pin upon rotation of said valve member by said predetermined force and to urge the other of said stop arms into a position of pending interference with said stop pin for the restoring rotation provided by said bias means.

19. Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 18, wherein each of said stop arms comprises a resilient portion for providing silent contact with said stop pin.

20. Manually operable valve apparatus for a brass wind instrument according to claim 14, wherein said manually operable means comprises:

a. an annular plate coaxially secured to said valve member for mutual rotation;

b. a roller rotatably secured to and projecting from said annular plate; and

c. a lever mechanism pivotally secured to said casing and including c l. a first lever arm for receiving an operating force, and c2. a second lever arm including means forming an aperture therein to encompass said roller and having edges for engaging said roller to rotate said valve member upon pivotal movement ofsaid lever mechanism.

21. Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 14. wherein said manually operable means comprises:

a. a lever pivotally connected to said casing and including a l. a first lever arm for receiving operating forces, and a2. a second lever arm having means defining a pair of edges thereon;

b. a third lever arm secured to said valve member for mutual rotation; and a coupling member projecting from said third lever arm and extending between said pair of edges for selective contact therewith and movement therealong in accordance with the direction of force applied to said first lever arm to transmit 'a corresponding rotational force to said valve member. 22. Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said manually operable means comprises:

14, wherein a. an annular plate is coaxially secured to said valve member for rotation therewith, b. said plate includes a first pin extending therefrom, c. said casing includes a second pin extending therefrom adjacent the arcuate path of said first pin, and d. said biasing means includes a spring having a pair of ends disposed on opposite sides of said first and second pins whereby one of said ends is urged against said first pin and the other against said second pin to store energy in said spring regardless of the direction of rotation of said annular plate.

24. A rotary valve assembly for a musical instrument comprising:

a. a casing;

b. a valve rotor rotatably mounted in said casing;

c. means defining ports and passages in said casing and said rotor for enabling selection of passages of three efiective lengths in response to rotor rotation; and

d. a manual actuator connected to said rotor and returnably biased to a central position by which a first of said passages is selected, said actuator being movable in two directions away from said central position to enable selection of the second or third passages.

25. A rotary valve according to claim 24, including:

a. a stop means on said rotor for coacting with an abutment on said casing and against which said actuator is angularly biased; and

b. an overcenter mechanism supporting said stop means, whereby said actuator may be biased against said stop means in the opposite angular direction.

26. A rotary valve according to claim 24, including:

a. an internal cam mounted for rotation about an axis eccentric to said rotor and driven by said actuator; and

b. a cam follower secured to said rotor eccentric to the rotor axis and disposed within said internal cam to be driven thereby.

27. A rotary valve assembly, according to claim 26, including:

a. a stop means for coacting with an abutment on said casing and against which said actuator is angularly biased; and b. an overcenter mechanism pivotally mounted on said cam follower and whereby said actuator may be biased against said stop means in the opposite angular direction. 

1. A rotary valve assembly for a musical instrument comprising: a. a casing; b. a valve rotor rotatably mounted in said casing; c. means in said casing defining a series of ports lying in a pair of axially spaced planes, the ports in one of said planes aligned with ports of another of said planes along lines parallel to the rotor axis; d. means in said rotor defining passages for interconnecting said ports and including a fluid passageway extending parallel to the rotor axis for interconnecting pairs of aligned ports lying in said spaced planes; and e. means for rotating said rotor.
 2. A rotary valve for a musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said ports are spaced apart 120* about said casing.
 3. A rotary valve for a musical instrument according to claim 2, wherein a. a first of said ports is an inlet port, b. a second of said ports in an outlet port and of the same plane as said inlet port, c. a first external passageway connects a third port and a fourth port of different pairs of ports, d. a second external passageway connects a fifth port and a sixth port of different pairs of ports, e. said fluid passageway is a first fluid passageway, and f. said means in said rotor further defines second and third fluid passageways normal to the direction of said first passageway, said rotor being selectively positionable to place said first, second and third passageways in communication with said ports selectively to alter the length of fluid flow between said inlet and outlet ports.
 4. A rotary valve for a musical instrument comprising: a. a hollow cylindrical valve casing including a1. means defining a plurality of first ports through said casing along a first plane transverse to said casing, and a2. a plurality of second ports through said casing along a second plane generally parallel to the first plane; b. a cylindrical rotor mounted for rotation within said casing including b1. a fluid passageway extending parallel to the the axis of said rotor; and c. positioning means secured to said rotor for mutual rotation therewith to selectively place said fluid in communication between a first and a second of said ports.
 5. A rotary valve for a musical instrument according to claim 4, wherein a. each of said first ports is aligned with a separate one of said second ports to form pairs of ports, and b. said pairs of ports are spaced apart 120* about said valve casing.
 6. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument, comprising: a. a hollow valve casing having a plurality of ports therethrough; b. an inlet tube extending from a first of said ports for coupling to and receiving fluid flow from the instrument; c. an outlet tube extending from a second of said ports for coupling to and delivering fluid flow to the instrument; d. a rotor mounted for rotation within said valve casing; e. positioning means for placing said rotor in selected angular positions; f. a first passageway extending through said rotor to connect said inlet and outlet tubes in communication when said rotor is in a first position to provide a first fluid path of a first length and render the instrument operable in a first musical key; g. a first tube connecting a third and a fourth of said ports in communication; h. a second passageway in said rotor extending normal to the direction of said first passageway, said first and third ports connected by said first passageway and said second and fourth ports connected by said second passageway when said rotor is in a second position to provide a second fluid path of a second length and render the instrument operable in a second musical key; i. a second tube connecting a fifth and a sixth of said ports; and j. a third passageway in said rotor extending normal to the direction of said second passageway, said second and third ports connected by said first passageway and said first and fifth ports connected by said second passageway and said fourth and sixth ports connected by said third passageway when said rotor is in a third position to provide a third fluid path of a third length and render the instrument operable in a third fluid path of a third length and render the instrument operable in a third musical key.
 7. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument according to claim 6, further comprising: a. biasing means connected between said rotor and said casing for urging said rotor toward said first position.
 8. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument according to claim 6, comprising: a. manually operable lever means included in said positioning means and coupled to said rotor; and b. spring means connected between said lever means and said valve casing for urging said rotor toward said first position.
 9. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument according to claim 6, comprising a. means defining an aperture in said casing; b. a valve stem on said rotor extending through said aperture to the exterior of said valve; c. manually operable key selection lever means included in said positioning means coupled to said valve stem operable to first, second and third positions corresponding to said first, second and third positions of said rotor; and d. biasing means coupled to said positioning means and to said casing for returning said rotor and said key selection lever means to said corresponding first positions upon release of said key selection lever means.
 10. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument according to claim 9, wherein said manually operable key selection lever means comprises: a. first lever means connected to said valve stem for rotation therewith; b. second lever means pivotally connected to said casing; c. coupling means included in said first and second lever means effecting a variable length of said second lever means to match the arcuate movement thereof with the rotary movement of said first lever means; and d. manually operable third lever means pivotally connected to one of said tubes and to said second lever means for selectively positioning said second lever means to position said first lever means and rotor.
 11. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument according to claim 9, wherein: a. said valve casing includes a hollow cylinder having a wall therein dividing said hollow cylinder into first and second cup-shaped portions, said wall including said aperture centrally disposed therein; b. said rotor is disposed in said first cup-shaped portion with said valve stem extending through said aperture; c. a cover secured to the open end of said first cup-shaped portion to secure said rotor therein; d. said key selection means includes a cap secured to said valve stem to form said first lever means and cover said second cup-shaped portion; and e. said biasing means includes a spring disposed in said second cup-shaped portion and coupled between said cap and said casing to urge said rotor toward said first position.
 12. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument according to claim 11, wherein: a. said casing includes a first pin extending from said wall into said second cup-shaped portion; b. said cap includes a second pin extending into said second cup-shaped portion; and c. said spring includes first and second ends which selectively contact said first and second pins upon angular movement of said rotor, d. one of said first and second ends being selectively movable with said second pin and while the other end is forced against said first pin to store restoring energy in said spring regardless of the direction of rotation of said rotor.
 13. Valve apparatus for serial interposition in the fluid passageway of a brass wind instrument according to claim 11, wherein said casing includes: a. a first bearing mounted in the aperture of said wall; and b. a second bearing mounted in said cover, said bearings rotatably supporting said rotor within said casing.
 14. Manually operable valve apparatus for a brass wind instrument comprising: a. a valve including a1. a hollow valve casing having a longitudinal axis, a tubular wall, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a plurality of other ports, each of said ports extending through said tubular wall, said ports spaced about said casing and lying in spaced-apart planes with each port in a plane aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of said casing with a port in another plane, and a2. a cylindrical valve member rotatably secured within said casing for rotation about said longitudinal axis of said casing and having a plurality of fluid passageways formed therein for connecting selected pairs of said ports in communication, at least one of said passageways extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said casing; b. an inlet tube connected to said inlet port for delivering fluid thereto; c. an outlet tube connected to said outlet port for receiving fluid therefrom; d. a plurality of other tubes each connecting a separate pair of said other ports in communication; e. manually operable means connected to said valve member for rotating said valve member to selectively align said fluid passageways with said ports and thereby selectively alter the length of fluid flow in said apparatus and the musical key of the instrument; and f. biasing means coupled between said valve member and said casing for urging said valve member toward a first angular position corresponding to a first musical key. 15 Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each of said other tubes includes means for adjusting the length thereof to additionally alter the length of fluid flow for the instrument.
 16. Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a. said valve member is mounted for rotation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, and b. said bias means includes spring means connected to said valve member and means for storing energy in said spring means regardless of the direction of rotation of said valve member.
 17. Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 14, including a stop mechanism for preventing overshoot of said first angular position upon restoration thereto by said biasing means, said stop mechanism comprising: a. a stop arm pivotally connected to said valve member and rotatable therewith; b. a stop pin secured to said casing and disposed in the path of travel of said stop arm; and c. toggle means pivotally connected to said valve member and to said stop arm and operable to permit said stop arm to be pivoted away from said stop pin upon the application of a force to rotate said valve member which is greater than the restoring force of said biasing means.
 18. Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 14, including a stop mechanism for preventing overshoot of said first angular position upon restoration thereto by said biasing means, said stop mechanism comprising: a. a yoke including a pair of stop arms and pivotally connected to said valve member for angular movement therewith; b. a stop pin secured to said casing and extending into the path of travel of said stop arms; and c. toggle means for pivoting said stop arms upon the application of a predetermined force to said manually operable means, said toggle means including a spring pivotally connected to said valve member and to said yoke to urge one of said stop arms out of an interference relationship with said stop pin upon rotation of said valve member by said predetermined force and to urge the other of said stop arms into a position of pending interference with said stop pin for the restoring rotation provided by said bias means.
 19. Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 18, wherein each of said stop arms comprises a resilient portion for providing silent contact with said stop pin.
 20. Manually operable valve apparatus for a brass wind instrument according to claim 14, wherein said manually operable means comprises: a. an annular plate coaxially secured to said valve member for mutual rotation; b. a roller rotatably secured to and projecting from said annular plate; and c. a lever mechanism pivotally secured to said casing and including c1. a first lever arm for receiving an operating force, and c2. a second lever arm including means forming an aperture therein to encompass said roller and having edges for engaging said roller to rotate said valve member upon pivotal movement of said lever mechanism.
 21. Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said manually operable means comprises: a. a lever pivotally connected to said casing and including a1. a first lever arm for receiving operating forces, and a2. a second lever arm having means defining a pair of edges thereon; b. a third lever arm secured to said valve member for mutual rotation; and c. a coupling member projecting from said third lever arm and extending between said pair of edges for selective contact therewith and movement therealong in accordance with the direction of force applied to said first lever arm to transmit a corresponding rotational force to said valve member.
 22. Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said manually operable means comprises: a. a T-shaped lever pivotally connected to one of said tubes and including a1. the crossbar of the T as a handle for receiving a hand of an operator, and a2. the leg of the T as a lever arm; and b. a link pivotally connected to the leg of the T and to said first lever arm.
 23. Manually operable valve apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a. an annular plate is coaxially secured to said valve member for rotation therewith, b. said plate includes a first pin extending therefrom, c. said casing includes a second pin extending therefrom adjacent the arcuate path of said first pin, and d. said biasing means includes a spring having a pair of ends disposed on opposite sides of said first and second pins whereby one of said ends is urged against said first pin and the other against said second pin to store energy in said spring regardless of the direction of rotation of said annular plate.
 24. A rotary valve assembly for a musical instrument comprising: a. a casing; b. a valve rotor rotatably mounted in said casing; c. means defining ports and passages in said casing and said rotor for enabling selection of passages of three effective lengths in response to rotor rotation; and d. a manual actuator connected to said rotor and returnably biased to a central position by which a first of said passages is selected, said actuator being movable in two directions away from said central position to enable selection of the second or third passages.
 25. A rotary valve according to claim 24, including: a. a stop means on said rotor for coacting with an abutment on said casing and against which said actuator is angularly biased; and b. an overcenter mechanism supporting said stop means, whereby said actuator may be biased against said stop means in the opposite angular direction.
 26. A rotary valve according to claim 24, including: a. an internal cam mounted for rotation about an axis eccentric to said rotor and driven by said actuator; and b. a cam follower secured to said rotor eccentric to the rotor axis and disposed within said internal cam to be driven thereby.
 27. A rotary valve assembly, according to claim 26, including: a. a stop means for coacting with an abutment on said casing and against which said actuator is angularly biased; and b. an overcenter mechanism pivotally mounted on said cam follower and whereby said actuator may be biased against said stop means in the opposite angular direction. 